Video: Belfort and Bisping get heated at UFC on FX 7 press conference

SAO PAULO – What had been a rather cordial buildup to Saturday’s UFC on FX 7 event took a stark turn in a different direction at Thursday’s pre-event press conference.

After headliners Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping took turns lacing verbal jabs at each other during the 45-minute long press conference, tensions boiled over when the pair was brought together for an obligatory staredown photo.

In a bit of an uncharacteristic move, Belfort put his right fist on Bisping’s chin. The Brit pushed the limb away, and Belfort put it right back where it started. When UFC Managing Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik stepped in to separate the two, Bisping backed away, pointed sternly at his Brazilian foe and warned, “I’ll f—ing see you on Saturday night.”

Belfort responded by repeatedly shouting, “I’m ready!”

Shortly after the incident, Bisping took to Twitter to point out the irony in what he considered Belfort’s offensive behavior, especially after calling “The Count” a “hooligan” in some prefight interviews.

“Vitor just chinned me at the press conference,” Bisping wrote. He touched my face, so I pushed it away and he put it back a little aggressively. Then he started shouting. Who’s the hooligan now, eh?”

UFC on FX 7 takes place Saturday at Sao Paulo’s Ibirapuera Gymnasium. The evening’s main card airs on FX following prelims on FUEL TV and Facebook.

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